[CTcard]

That they have not even played suggests that they are nowhere near ready ...

Or suggests that the coaches are looking at the issue in a different manner than you are.

Yes, of course, we will somehow find a way to field an offensive line and we will have inside linebacker core.  But we were not well-served by big gaps in the defensive line from 2015 - 2017, and we are still dealing with the after-effects of it.  The margin for error going forward will be narrower at these positions especially (and a couple others, as I have highlighted), and if we have players get injured, or not pan out for whatever reason, then the drop-off in quality will be reflected by the on-field product.

All of this is true, but also pretty much the nature of college football, particularly of recruiting at Stanford.

As a coach, you have to do everything you can to have the player pipeline you need, but also the flexibility to handle thin patches as they arrive.

As a fan, my recommendation is to learn to understand its gonna happen from time to time and try not to let it drive you nuts. But it's only a recommendation - fans are free to go as nuts as they wish.

[CTcard]

That they have not even played suggests that they are nowhere near ready ...

Or suggests that the coaches are looking at the issue in a different manner than you are.

Yes, of course, we will somehow find a way to field an offensive line and we will have inside linebacker core.  But we were not well-served by big gaps in the defensive line from 2015 - 2017, and we are still dealing with the after-effects of it.  The margin for error going forward will be narrower at these positions especially (and a couple others, as I have highlighted), and if we have players get injured, or not pan out for whatever reason, then the drop-off in quality will be reflected by the on-field product.

All of this is true, but also pretty much the nature of college football, particularly of recruiting at Stanford.

As a coach, you have to do everything you can to have the player pipeline you need, but also the flexibility to handle thin patches as they arrive.

As a fan, my recommendation is to learn to understand its gonna happen from time to time and try not to let it drive you nuts. But it's only a recommendation - fans are free to go as nuts as they wish.